Alleging ill treatment by SAI, five-time Paralympian "threatens" to return Arjuna Award

Alleging "ill treatment" by Sports Authority of India (SAI), five-time Paralympian shooter and coach Naresh Kumar Sharma on Tuesday threatened to return his Arjuna Award in protest.

In a letter to Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, Sharma said that allegations of sexual harassment were levelled against him by a trainee after he "told her that as per SAI rules, no personal coach was allowed at the range".

"With a heavy heart, I have decided to return the prestigious Arjuna Award and a cheque of Rs 50,000/- to your kind self, as grave injustice has been done to me in the last three months by the Sports Authority of India officials," he wrote in the letter.

Sharma is a para shooter with 90 per cent disability and got the Arjuna Award in 1997 for his achievements and years of dedication in rifle shooting.

"I have proudly donned India colours in five Paralympic Games and four Para Asian Games, World Cups and other international competitions, bringing laurels to the country.

"But in the last three months, I have been treated like a criminal by the same organisation, which hired me as a coach at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges.

"Allegations of sexual harassment were levelled against me by a trainee when I told her that as per SAI Rules, no personal coach was allowed at the Range."